WARNING: E-cigarette fires

A recent incident at the Boston-Logan airport has raised concerns about e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are battery powered or socket-charged, and work by a push-button mechanism that activates a heating coil to release vapour.

In this incident, the e-cigarette was stowed in a soft side-pocket of stowed baggage and the protective cover of the push-button either removed or broken. The button was activated by pressure from other baggage in the hold and the heating coil caused the bag to ignite.

The report notes that the e-cigarette market is currently unregulated, and that e-cigarette users (known as ‘vapers’) often modify their equipment, which may give rise to additional safety concerns.